Method for determining uplink control channel scheduling unit, base station and user equipment

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure discloses a method for determining an uplink control channel scheduling unit, a base station, a user equipment, and a computer readable storage medium, including: according to the number of scheduling units occupied by the uplink control channel of the user equipment, the initial scheduling unit used by the uplink control channel, the position of the starting symbol of the uplink control channel in the initial scheduling unit, the number of symbols used, and the agreed rule, the base station determines the subsequent scheduling unit used by the uplink control channel, and/or the position of the symbol used by the uplink control channel in the subsequent scheduling unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent document is a continuation of and claims the benefit ofpriority to International Patent Application No. PCT/CN2018/115101,filed on Nov. 12, 2018, which claims the benefit of priority to ChinesePatent Application No. 201711107748.1, filed on Nov. 10, 2017. Theentire contents of the before-mentioned patent applications areincorporated by reference as part of the disclosure of this application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to, but is not limited to, the field ofwireless communication technologies, and in particular, to a method fordetermining an uplink control channel scheduling unit, a base stationand a user equipment.

BACKGROUND

5G NR (New Radio) is an ongoing 3GPP (3rd generation partnershipproject) study item, which determines a new wireless air interfacestandard based on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) andwill become the foundation for a next generation mobile network.

In an NR system, a scheduling unit (for example, a slot (slot), whichwill be described with a slot as an example below) has variousstructures, which may be flexibly configured by a base station. In somecases, a slot may include one or more of the following parts: a downlinktransmission part, an uplink transmission part and a guard period (GP)part, and the number of OFDM symbols occupied by each part may beconfigured. In other words, the number of OFDM symbols used for uplinktransmission in one slot varies within a range of 0 to 14.

In the NR system, a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) isclassified into two categories: a short PUCCH and a long PUCCH. Theshort PUCCH is mainly used for a user equipment (UE) in the central areaof a cell to send timely an Acknowledgement/Negative Acknowledgement(ACK/NACK) feedback or other channel state information (Channel StateInformation, CSI). The short PUCCH is generally occupies several OFDMsymbols located at the end of a slot (for example, 1 or 2 OFDM symbolsat the end of a downlink slot; or 1 or 2 OFDM symbols at the end of anuplink slot), or several symbols placed before uplink data in the slot.The long PUCCH is mainly used for UE at the edge of a cell, and occupiesmore OFDM symbols to improve transmission coverage of the long uplinkcontrol channel. The long PUCCH generally includes 4 to 14 OFDM symbols,and is allowed to span multiple slots, and detailed implementationmethods are still under discussion.

In the NR system, PUCCH is allowed to span multiple slots. For example,one PUCCH needs more uplink OFDM symbols, but there are not enough OFDMsymbols in one slot, and therefore more slots are needed to providesufficient OFDM symbols. When a base station configures a PUCCH spanningmultiple slots for the UE, the base station informs the UE of a startslot of the PUCCH and the number of slots that need to be spanned. Forexample, the base station informs the UE that the start slot of thePUCCH spanning multiple slots is a slot n and the number of slots thatneed to be spanned is 4. However, since the slot has a dynamicallyvarying structure, that is, the slots after the slot n includes adownlink-dominated slot (the number of downlink OFDM symbols is morethan that of the uplink OFDM symbol in the slot), an uplink-dominatedslot (the number of the uplink OFDM symbols is more than that of thedownlink OFDM symbol in the slot), an uplink-only slot, a downlink-onlyslot, a reserved slot, and the like. It is unknown about how will the UEto select the remaining 3 slots except the start slot and scheduleresources to meet different communication requirements of the NR systemso as to well balance the effective utilization of resources andcommunication quality.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a method for determining an uplinkcontrol channel scheduling unit, a base station and a user equipment,which enables to select, after a start scheduling unit, an appropriatescheduling unit as a scheduling unit of a PUCCH spanning schedulingunits.

A technical solution of an embodiment of the present disclosure isimplemented as follows.

The embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method fordetermining an uplink control channel scheduling unit, which includesthe following steps:

determining, by a base station, a subsequent scheduling unit used by anuplink control channel and/or a position of a symbol used by the uplinkcontrol channel in the subsequent scheduling unit according to thenumber of scheduling units occupied by the uplink control channel of auser equipment, a start scheduling unit used by the uplink controlchannel, a start symbol position of the uplink control channel in thestart scheduling unit and the number of symbols used by the uplinkcontrol channel in the start scheduling unit, and an agreed rule.

An embodiment of the present disclosure also provides a computerreadable storage medium storing one or more programs, which are executedby one or more processors to implement any one of the foregoing steps ofthe method for determining an uplink control channel scheduling unit.

An embodiment of the present disclosure also provides a method fordetermining an uplink control channel scheduling unit, which includesthe following steps:

determining, by a user equipment, a subsequent scheduling unit used byan uplink control channel and/or a position of a symbol used by theuplink control channel in the subsequent scheduling unit according tothe number of scheduling units occupied by the uplink control channel, astart scheduling unit used by the uplink control channel, a start symbolposition of the uplink control channel in the start scheduling unit andthe number of symbols used by the uplink control channel in the startscheduling unit, and an agreed rule.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when a basestation configures the user equipment to receive scheduling unit typeindication signaling from the base station and the user equipment failsto correctly receive the scheduling unit type indication signaling fromthe base station, the scheduling unit type indication signaling is usedfor the base station to indicate a type of a subsequent scheduling unitof the user equipment, and the method further includes: skippingdetermining, by the user equipment, the subsequent scheduling unit, anddetermining only the start scheduling unit as a scheduling unit used bythe uplink control channel

An embodiment of the present disclosure also provides a computerreadable storage medium storing one or more programs, which are executedby one or more processors to implement any one of the foregoing steps ofthe method for determining an uplink control channel scheduling unit.

An embodiment of the present disclosure also provides a base stationincluding:

a first determining unit configured to determine a subsequent schedulingunit used by an uplink control channel and/or a position of a symbolused by the uplink control channel in the subsequent scheduling unitaccording to the number of scheduling units occupied by the uplinkcontrol channel, a start scheduling unit used by the uplink controlchannel, a start symbol position of the uplink control channel in thestart scheduling unit and the number of symbols used by the uplinkcontrol channel in the start scheduling unit, and an agreed rule.

An embodiment of the present disclosure also provides a user equipmentincluding:

a second determining unit configured to determine a subsequentscheduling unit used by an uplink control channel and/or a position of asymbol used by the uplink control channel in the subsequent schedulingunit according to the number of scheduling units occupied by the uplinkcontrol channel of a user equipment, a start scheduling unit used by theuplink control channel, a start symbol position of the uplink controlchannel in the start scheduling unit and the number of symbols used bythe uplink control channel in the start scheduling unit, and an agreedrule.

The technical solutions of the present disclosure have the followingadvantageous effects.

According to the method for determining an uplink control channelscheduling unit, the base station and the user equipment provided in thepresent disclosure, a scheduling unit used by an uplink control channelof a user equipment is determined according to an agreed rule, thetechnical problem of how to select other appropriate slots after a startslot to carry a PUCCH that spans slots is resolved; and flexiblescheduling of resources is achieved simply, thereby satisfying differentPUCCH communication requirements and communication quality.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are used to provide a furtherunderstanding of the present disclosure and form a part of the presentdisclosure. The illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure andthe description thereof are used to explain the present disclosure butare not intended to limit the present disclosure. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic flowchart diagram of a method for determining anuplink control channel scheduling unit provided by an embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart diagram of a method for determining anuplink control channel scheduling unit provided by an embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a base station provided byan embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a user equipment provided byan embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a DMRS pattern provided byan embodiment of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of thepresent disclosure clearer, embodiments of the present disclosure willbe described in detail below with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. It shall be noted that the embodiments of the presentdisclosure and the features in the embodiments may be mutually combinedwith arbitrarily when they do not conflict with each other.

It shall be specially noted that a slot is taken as an example toillustrate a scheduling unit, and the scheduling unit includes severalconsecutive OFDM symbols, which may be either an uplink-only schedulingunit or a downlink-only scheduling unit, or a scheduling unit thatuplink and downlink are mixed. The slot herein may be a conventionalslot, for example, at present, the NR specifies that in a frequency bandnot exceeding 6 GHz, one slot includes 7 or 14 OFDM symbols, and in afrequency band exceeding 6 GHz, one slot includes at least 14 OFDMsymbols with other values to be determined. The slot herein may also bea mini slot (the mini-slot, also referred to as a mini scheduling unit),for example, in the NR, the number of symbols included in a currentlydefined mini-slot is 1 at least and the total number of symbols in aslot minus 1 at most. Obviously, the number of symbols in the mini-slotvaries significantly.

The following embodiments may exist independently, and the technicalfeatures in different embodiments may be combined and used in oneembodiment. Unless specifically stated herein, PUCCH resources may beshort PUCCH resources and/or long PUCCH resources. The PUCCH hereincorresponds to a physical uplink control channel (according totransmission characteristics, also referred to as, for example, anuplink control area or uplink control); in the formulation of an NRstandard, the PUCCH may also be abbreviated as other abbreviations suchas NR-PUCCH, but its original intention is still a physical uplinkcontrol channel, and the connotation has not changed, and therefore theaddressing is not used to limit the protection scope of the presentapplication.

As shown in FIG. 1, according to the present disclosure, a method fordetermining an uplink control channel scheduling unit includes thefollowing steps:

step 101: a base station configures, for a user equipment, the number ofscheduling units occupied by an uplink control channel of the userequipment, a start scheduling unit used by the uplink control channel, astart symbol position of the uplink control channel in the startscheduling unit, and the number of symbols used by the uplink controlchannel in the start scheduling unit; and

step 102: the base station determines a subsequent scheduling unit usedby the uplink control channel and/or a position of a symbol used by theuplink control channel in the subsequent scheduling unit according tothe number of scheduling units, the start scheduling unit, the startsymbol position, the number of symbols used, and an agreed rule.

It shall be noted that, when the base station configures the userequipment to receive scheduling unit type indication signaling from thebase station and the user equipment does not correctly receive thescheduling unit type indication signaling from the base station, thescheduling unit type indication signaling is used for the base stationto indicate a type of a subsequent scheduling unit of the userequipment, and the method further includes:

determining, by the user equipment, only the start scheduling unit as ascheduling unit used by the uplink control channel. In this way, theuser equipment sends control information of the uplink control channelonly in the start scheduling unit used by the uplink control channelindicated in the scheduling unit indication signaling.

In some embodiments, if the base station does not configure the userequipment to receive the scheduling unit type indication signaling fromthe base station, the step of determining the subsequent scheduling unitused by the uplink control channel according to the agreed ruleincludes:

determining, by the base station, consecutive n scheduling unitsstarting from the start scheduling unit and including the startscheduling unit, as scheduling units used by the uplink control channel,where n is the number of scheduling units occupied by the uplink controlchannel.

It shall be noted that, if the base station does not configure the userequipment to receive the scheduling unit type indication signaling fromthe base station, the user equipment transmits, in consecutive Nscheduling units starting from the start scheduling unit used by theuplink control channel indicated in the scheduling unit indicationsignaling, control information of the uplink control channel.

In some embodiments, the step of determining the subsequent schedulingunit used by the uplink control channel according to the agreed ruleincludes:

the subsequent scheduling unit has a resource capable of carrying theuplink control channel, and the number of symbols capable of carryingthe uplink control channel is greater than or equal to the number ofsymbols used by the uplink control channel in the start scheduling unit.The symbol is used for an NR system and allowed to be used by an uplinkcontrol channel, and the symbol includes an uplink symbol.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the step of determining theposition of the symbol used by the uplink control channel in thesubsequent scheduling unit according to the agreed rule includes:

when a symbol position of the uplink symbol used for carrying the uplinkcontrol channel in the subsequent scheduling unit is different from aposition of symbols used for the uplink control channel in the startscheduling unit, a start symbol position of the uplink symbol used forcarrying the uplink control channel in the subsequent scheduling unit isa position of the first uplink symbol capable of carrying the uplinkcontrol channel.

In some embodiments, the step of determining the subsequent schedulingunit used by the uplink control channel and the position of the symbolused by the uplink control channel in the subsequent scheduling unitaccording to the agreed rule includes:

the subsequent scheduling unit has a resource capable of carrying theuplink control channel, the number of symbols capable of carrying theuplink control channel is greater than or equal to the number of symbolsused by the uplink control channel in the start scheduling unit, and asymbol position of the symbol used for carrying the uplink controlchannel in the subsequent scheduling unit is the same as a position ofsymbols used for the uplink control channel in the start schedulingunit. The symbol is used for an NR system and allowed to be used by anuplink control channel, and the symbol includes an uplink symbol.

In some embodiments, the step of determining the subsequent schedulingunit used by the uplink control channel according to the agreed ruleincludes:

the subsequent scheduling unit has a resource capable of carrying theuplink control channel, and the uplink control channel bore by thesubsequent scheduling unit and the uplink control channel bore by thestart scheduling unit have a same orthogonal cover code (OCC)multiplexing capability.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the step of determining thesubsequent scheduling unit used by the uplink control channel accordingto the agreed rule includes:

when the uplink control channel performs frequency hopping, thesubsequent scheduling unit has the resource capable of carrying theuplink control channel, and it is satisfied that an orthogonal covercode multiplexing capability corresponding to each frequency hopping ofthe uplink control channel in the subsequent scheduling unit is the sameas an orthogonal cover code multiplexing capability corresponding toeach frequency hopping of the uplink control channel in the startscheduling unit.

It shall be noted that when the uplink control channel does not performfrequency hopping in the determined scheduling unit, the OCCmultiplexing capability is calculated as a whole.

In some embodiments, the step of determining the subsequent schedulingunit used by the uplink control channel according to the agreed ruleincludes:

the subsequent scheduling unit has a resource capable of carrying theuplink control channel, and a length of a mother code of a coded bit ofthe uplink control channel bore by the subsequent scheduling unit is thesame as a length of a mother code of a coded bit of the uplink controlchannel bore by the start scheduling unit.

In some embodiments, a type of the subsequent scheduling unit includesonly an uplink scheduling unit and a downlink scheduling unit.

In some embodiments, a type of the subsequent scheduling unit includesonly an uplink scheduling unit.

In some embodiments, symbol positions used by the uplink control channelin each of the scheduling units are consecutive.

In some embodiments, the step of determining the subsequent schedulingunit used by the uplink control channel according to the agreed ruleincludes: a scheduling unit is selected as one of the subsequentscheduling units if the scheduling unit satisfies the followingcondition: the scheduling unit is capable of providing the same numberof symbols and a same symbol position as the uplink control channeltransmitted in the start scheduling unit; where the symbol is used foran NR system and allowed to be used by an uplink control channel, andthe symbol includes an uplink symbol.

An embodiment of the present disclosure also provides a computerreadable storage medium storing one or more programs, which are executedby one or more processors to implement any one of the foregoing steps ofthe method for determining an uplink control channel scheduling unit.

As shown in FIG. 2, the present disclosure also discloses a method fordetermining an uplink control channel scheduling unit, which includesthe following steps:

step 201: a user equipment receives resource configuration signalingfrom a base station, and the resource configuration signaling includesthe number of scheduling units occupied by an uplink control channel ofthe user equipment, a start scheduling unit used by the uplink controlchannel, a start symbol position of the uplink control channel in thestart scheduling unit, and the number of symbols used by the uplinkcontrol channel in the start scheduling unit; and

step 202: the user equipment determines a subsequent scheduling unitused by the uplink control channel and/or a position of a symbol used bythe uplink control channel in the subsequent scheduling unit accordingto the resource configuration signaling and an agreed rule.

In some embodiments, when the base station configures the user equipmentto receive scheduling unit type indication signaling from the basestation and the user equipment does not correctly receive the schedulingunit type indication signaling from the base station, the schedulingunit type indication signaling is used for the base station to indicatea type of a subsequent scheduling unit of the user equipment, and themethod further includes:

skipping determining, by the user equipment, the subsequent schedulingunit, and determining only the start scheduling unit as a schedulingunit used by the uplink control channel.

It shall be noted that, if the base station does not configure the userequipment to receive the scheduling unit type indication signaling fromthe base station, the user equipment transmits control information ofthe uplink control channel only in the start scheduling unit used by theuplink control channel indicated in the scheduling unit indicationsignaling.

In some embodiments, if the base station does not configure the userequipment to receive the scheduling unit type indication signaling fromthe base station or if the base station does not configure thescheduling unit type indication signaling for the user equipment, themethod includes:

determining, by the user equipment, consecutive n scheduling unitsstarting from the start scheduling unit and including the startscheduling unit, as scheduling units used by the uplink control channel,where n is the number of scheduling units occupied by the uplink controlchannel.

It shall be noted that, if the base station does not configure the userequipment to receive the scheduling unit type indication signaling fromthe base station, the user equipment transmits, in consecutive nscheduling units starting from the start scheduling unit used by theuplink control channel indicated in the scheduling unit indicationsignaling, control information of the uplink control channel.

In some embodiments, the step of determining the subsequent schedulingunit used by the uplink control channel according to the agreed ruleincludes:

the subsequent scheduling unit has a resource capable of carrying theuplink control channel, and the number of symbols capable of carryingthe uplink control channel is greater than or equal to the number ofsymbols used by the uplink control channel in the start scheduling unit.The symbol is used for an NR system and allowed to be used by an uplinkcontrol channel, and the symbol includes an uplink symbol.

In some embodiments, the step of determining the subsequent schedulingunit used by the uplink control channel according to the agreed ruleincludes:

when a symbol position of a symbol used for carrying the uplink controlchannel in the subsequent scheduling unit is different from a positionof symbols used for the uplink control channel in the start schedulingunit, a start symbol position of the symbol used for carrying the uplinkcontrol channel in the subsequent scheduling unit is a position of thefirst symbol capable of carrying the uplink control channel. The symbolis used for an NR system and allowed to be used by an uplink controlchannel, and the symbol includes an uplink symbol.

In some embodiments, the step of determining the subsequent schedulingunit used by the uplink control channel and the position of the symbolused by the uplink control channel in the subsequent scheduling unitaccording to the agreed rule includes:

the subsequent scheduling unit has a resource capable of carrying theuplink control channel, the number of symbols capable of carrying theuplink control channel is greater than or equal to the number of symbolsused by the uplink control channel in the start scheduling unit, and asymbol position of the symbol used for carrying the uplink controlchannel in the subsequent scheduling unit is the same as a position ofsymbols used for the uplink control channel in the start schedulingunit. The symbol is used for an NR system and allowed to be used by anuplink control channel, and the symbol includes an uplink symbol.

In some embodiments, the step of determining the subsequent schedulingunit used by the uplink control channel according to the agreed ruleincludes:

the subsequent scheduling unit has a resource capable of carrying theuplink control channel, and the uplink control channel bore by thesubsequent scheduling unit and the uplink control channel bore by thestart scheduling unit have a same orthogonal cover code multiplexingcapability.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the step of determining thesubsequent scheduling unit used by the uplink control channel accordingto the agreed rule includes:

when the uplink control channel performs frequency hopping, thesubsequent scheduling unit has the resource capable of carrying theuplink control channel, and it is satisfied that an orthogonal covercode multiplexing capability corresponding to each frequency hopping ofthe uplink control channel in the subsequent scheduling unit is the sameas an orthogonal cover code multiplexing capability corresponding toeach frequency hopping of the uplink control channel in the startscheduling unit.

It shall be noted that when the uplink control channel does not performfrequency hopping in the determined scheduling unit, an OCC multiplexingcapability is calculated as a whole.

In some embodiments, the step of determining the subsequent schedulingunit used by the uplink control channel according to the agreed ruleincludes:

the subsequent scheduling unit has a resource capable of carrying theuplink control channel, and it is satisfied that a length of a mothercode of a coded bit of the uplink control channel bore by the subsequentscheduling unit is the same as a length of a mother code of a coded bitof the uplink control channel bore by the start scheduling unit.

In some embodiments, a type of the subsequent scheduling unit includesonly an uplink scheduling unit and a downlink scheduling unit.

In some embodiments, a type of the subsequent scheduling unit includesonly an uplink scheduling unit.

In some embodiments, symbol positions used by the uplink control channelin each of the scheduling units are consecutive.

In some embodiments, the step of determining the subsequent schedulingunit used by the uplink control channel according to the agreed ruleincludes: a scheduling unit is selected as one of the subsequentscheduling units if the scheduling unit satisfies the followingcondition: the scheduling unit is capable of providing the same numberof symbols and a same symbol position as the uplink control channeltransmitted in the start scheduling unit; where the symbol is used foran NR system and allowed to be used by an uplink control channel, andthe symbol includes an uplink symbol.

An embodiment of the present disclosure also provides a computerreadable storage medium storing one or more programs, which are executedby one or more processors to implement any one of the foregoing steps ofthe method for determining an uplink control channel scheduling unit.

As shown in FIG. 3, the present disclosure also discloses a base stationincluding:

a configuring unit 301 configured to configure, for a user equipment,the number of scheduling units occupied by the uplink control channel, astart scheduling unit used by the uplink control channel, a start symbolposition of the uplink control channel in the start scheduling unit, andthe number of symbols used by the uplink control channel in the startscheduling unit; and

a first determining unit 302 configured to determine a subsequentscheduling unit used by the uplink control channel and/or a position ofa symbol used by the uplink control channel in the subsequent schedulingunit according to the number of scheduling units, the start schedulingunit, the start symbol position, the number of symbols used, and anagreed rule.

It shall be noted that, when the base station configures the userequipment to receive scheduling unit type indication signaling from thebase station and the user equipment does not correctly receive thescheduling unit type indication signaling from the base station, thescheduling unit type indication signaling is used for the base stationto indicate a type of a subsequent scheduling unit of the userequipment, and the user equipment determines only the start schedulingunit as a scheduling unit used by the uplink control channel, that is,the user equipment transmits control information of the uplink controlchannel only in the start scheduling unit used by the uplink controlchannel indicated in the scheduling unit indication signaling.

In some embodiments, if the base station does not configure the userequipment to receive the scheduling unit type indication signaling fromthe base station or if the base station does not configure thescheduling unit type indication signaling for the user equipment, thefirst determining unit 302 is also configured to:

determine consecutive n scheduling units starting from the startscheduling unit and including the start scheduling unit, as schedulingunits used by the uplink control channel, where n is the number ofscheduling units occupied by the uplink control channel.

It shall be noted that, if the base station does not configure the userequipment to receive the scheduling unit type indication signaling fromthe base station, the user equipment transmits, in consecutive nscheduling units starting from the start scheduling unit used by theuplink control channel indicated in the scheduling unit indicationsignaling, control information of the uplink control channel.

In some embodiments, the first determining unit 302 is configured todetermine the subsequent scheduling unit used by the uplink controlchannel according to the agreed rule in a following manner:

the subsequent scheduling unit has a resource capable of carrying theuplink control channel, and the number of uplink symbols capable ofcarrying the uplink control channel is greater than or equal to thenumber of symbols used by the uplink control channel in the startscheduling unit.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first determining unit302 is configured to determine the position of the symbol used by theuplink control channel in the subsequent scheduling unit according tothe agreed rule in a following manner:

when a symbol position of an uplink symbol used for carrying the uplinkcontrol channel in the subsequent scheduling unit is different from aposition of symbols used for the uplink control channel in the startscheduling unit, a start symbol position of the uplink symbol used forcarrying the uplink control channel in the subsequent scheduling unit isa position of the first uplink symbol capable of carrying the uplinkcontrol channel.

In some embodiments, the first determining unit 302 configured todetermine the subsequent scheduling unit used by the uplink controlchannel and the position of the symbol used by the uplink controlchannel in the subsequent scheduling unit according to the agreed ruleincludes:

the subsequent scheduling unit has a resource capable of carrying theuplink control channel, the number of symbols capable of carrying theuplink control channel is greater than or equal to the number of symbolsused by the uplink control channel in the start scheduling unit, and asymbol position of the symbol used for carrying the uplink controlchannel in the subsequent scheduling unit is the same as a position ofsymbols used for the uplink control channel in the start schedulingunit. The symbol is used for an NR system and allowed to be used by anuplink control channel, and the symbol includes an uplink symbol.

In some embodiments, the first determining unit 302 is configured todetermine the subsequent scheduling unit used by the uplink controlchannel according to the agreed rule in a following manner:

the subsequent scheduling unit has a resource capable of carrying theuplink control channel, and the uplink control channel bore by thesubsequent scheduling unit and the uplink control channel bore by thestart scheduling unit have a same OCC multiplexing capability.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first determining unit302 configured to determine the subsequent scheduling unit used by theuplink control channel according to the agreed rule includes:

when the uplink control channel performs frequency hopping, thesubsequent scheduling unit has the resource capable of carrying theuplink control channel, and it is satisfied that an orthogonal covercode multiplexing capability corresponding to each frequency hopping ofthe uplink control channel in the subsequent scheduling unit is the sameas an orthogonal cover code multiplexing capability corresponding toeach frequency hopping of the uplink control channel in the startscheduling unit.

It shall be noted that when the uplink control channel does not performfrequency hopping in the determined scheduling unit, the OCCmultiplexing capability is calculated as a whole.

In some embodiments, the first determining unit 302 is configured todetermine the subsequent scheduling unit used by the uplink controlchannel according to the agreed rule in a following manner:

the subsequent scheduling unit has a resource capable of carrying theuplink control channel, and it is satisfied that a length of a mothercode of a coded bit of the uplink control channel bore by the subsequentscheduling unit is the same as a length of a mother code of a coded bitof the uplink control channel bore by the start scheduling unit.

In some embodiments, a type of the subsequent scheduling unit includesonly an uplink scheduling unit and a downlink scheduling unit.

In some embodiments, a type of the subsequent scheduling unit includesonly an uplink scheduling unit.

In some embodiments, symbol positions used by the uplink control channelin each of the scheduling units are consecutive.

In some embodiments, the step of determining the subsequent schedulingunit used by the uplink control channel according to the agreed ruleincludes: a scheduling unit is selected as one of the subsequentscheduling units if the scheduling unit satisfies the followingcondition: the scheduling unit is capable of providing the same numberof symbols and a same symbol position as the uplink control channeltransmitted in the start scheduling unit; where the symbol is used foran NR system and allowed to be used by an uplink control channel, andthe symbol includes an uplink symbol.

As shown in FIG. 4, the present disclosure also discloses a userequipment including:

a receiving unit 401 configured to receive resource configurationsignaling from a base station, where the resource configurationsignaling includes the number of scheduling units occupied by an uplinkcontrol channel of a user equipment, a start scheduling unit used by theuplink control channel, a start symbol position of the uplink controlchannel in the start scheduling unit, and the number of symbols used bythe uplink control channel in the start scheduling unit; and

a second determining unit 402 configured to determine a subsequentscheduling unit used by the uplink control channel and/or a position ofa symbol used by the uplink control channel in the subsequent schedulingunit according to the resource configuration signaling and an agreedrule.

In some embodiments, when the base station configures the user equipmentto receive scheduling unit type indication signaling from the basestation and the user equipment does not correctly receive the schedulingunit type indication signaling from the base station, the schedulingunit type indication signaling is used for the base station to indicatea type of a subsequent scheduling unit of the user equipment, and thesecond determining unit 402 is further configured to:

skip determining the subsequent scheduling unit, and only determine thestart scheduling unit as a scheduling unit used by the uplink controlchannel.

It shall be noted that, if the base station does not configure the userequipment to receive the scheduling unit type indication signaling fromthe base station, the user equipment transmits control information ofthe uplink control channel only in the start scheduling unit used by theuplink control channel indicated in the scheduling unit indicationsignaling.

In some embodiments, if the base station does not configure the userequipment to receive the scheduling unit type indication signaling fromthe base station or if the base station does not configure thescheduling unit type indication signaling for the user equipment, thesecond determining unit 402 is also configured to:

determine consecutive n scheduling units starting from the startscheduling unit and including the start scheduling unit, as schedulingunits used by the uplink control channel, where n is the number ofscheduling units occupied by the uplink control channel.

It shall be noted that, if the base station does not configure the userequipment to receive the scheduling unit type indication signaling fromthe base station, the user equipment transmits, in consecutive nscheduling units starting from the start scheduling unit used by theuplink control channel indicated in the scheduling unit indicationsignaling, control information of the uplink control channel.

In some embodiments, the second determining unit 402 is configured todetermine the subsequent scheduling unit used by the uplink controlchannel according to the agreed rule in a following manner:

the subsequent scheduling unit has a resource capable of carrying theuplink control channel, and the number of symbols capable of carryingthe uplink control channel is greater than or equal to the number ofsymbols used by the uplink control channel in the start scheduling unit.The symbol is used for an NR system and allowed to be used by an uplinkcontrol channel, and the symbol includes an uplink symbol.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the second determining unit402 is configured to determine the subsequent scheduling unit used bythe uplink control channel and the position of the symbol used by theuplink control channel in the subsequent scheduling unit according tothe agreed rule in a following manner:

when a symbol position of a symbol used for carrying the uplink controlchannel in the subsequent scheduling unit is different from a positionof symbols used for the uplink control channel in the start schedulingunit, a start symbol position of the uplink symbol used for carrying theuplink control channel in the subsequent scheduling unit is a positionof the first uplink symbol capable of carrying the uplink controlchannel. The symbol is used for an NR system and allowed to be used byan uplink control channel, and the symbol includes an uplink symbol.

In some embodiments, the second determining unit 402 is configured todetermine the subsequent scheduling unit used by the uplink controlchannel according to the agreed rule in a following manner:

the subsequent scheduling unit has a resource capable of carrying theuplink control channel, the number of symbols capable of carrying theuplink control channel is greater than or equal to the number of symbolsused by the uplink control channel in the start scheduling unit, and asymbol position of the uplink symbol used for carrying the uplinkcontrol channel in the subsequent scheduling unit is the same as aposition of symbols used for the uplink control channel in the startscheduling unit. The symbol is used for an NR system and allowed to beused by an uplink control channel, and the symbol includes an uplinksymbol.

In some embodiments, the second determining unit 402 is configured todetermine the subsequent scheduling unit used by the uplink controlchannel according to the agreed rule in a following manner:

the subsequent scheduling unit has a resource capable of carrying theuplink control channel, and the uplink control channel bore by thesubsequent scheduling unit and the uplink control channel bore by thestart scheduling unit have a same OCC multiplexing capability.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the second determining unit402 is configured to determine the subsequent scheduling unit used bythe uplink control channel according to the agreed rule in a followingmanner:

when the uplink control channel performs frequency hopping, thesubsequent scheduling unit has the resource capable of carrying theuplink control channel, and it is satisfied that an orthogonal covercode multiplexing capability corresponding to each frequency hopping ofthe uplink control channel in the subsequent scheduling unit is the sameas an orthogonal cover code multiplexing capability corresponding toeach frequency hopping of the uplink control channel in the startscheduling unit.

It shall be noted that when the uplink control channel does not performfrequency hopping in the determined scheduling unit, the OCCmultiplexing capability is calculated as a whole.

In some embodiments, the second determining unit 402 is configured todetermine the subsequent scheduling unit used by the uplink controlchannel according to the agreed rule in a following manner:

the subsequent scheduling unit has a resource capable of carrying theuplink control channel, and it is satisfied that a length of a mothercode of a coded bit of the uplink control channel bore by the subsequentscheduling unit is the same as a length of a mother code of a coded bitof the uplink control channel bore by the start scheduling unit.

In some embodiments, a type of the subsequent scheduling unit includesonly an uplink scheduling unit and a downlink scheduling unit.

In some embodiments, a type of the subsequent scheduling unit includesonly an uplink scheduling unit.

In some embodiments, symbol positions used by the uplink control channelin each of the scheduling units are consecutive.

The present disclosure also provide several preferred embodiments forfurther illustration, but it shall be noted that the preferredembodiments are only for better description of the present disclosureand are not intended to unduly limit the present disclosure. Each of thefollowing embodiments may exist independently, and the technicalfeatures in different embodiments may be combined and used in oneembodiment. The PUCCH herein corresponds to a physical uplink controlchannel (according to transmission characteristics, also referred to as,for example, an uplink control area or uplink control). In theformulation of an NR standard, the PUCCH may also be abbreviated asother abbreviations such as NR-PUCCH, but its original intention isstill a physical uplink control channel, and the connotation has notchanged, and therefore the addressing does not affect the implementationof the method herein.

In this embodiment, excluding a reserved scheduling unit and/or anunknown scheduling unit and/or a random access channel (RACH) schedulingunit after a start scheduling unit, a scheduling unit is selected froman uplink scheduling unit and a downlink scheduling unit. The downlinkscheduling unit includes a downlink-only scheduling unit and adownlink-dominated scheduling unit, and the uplink scheduling unitincludes an uplink-only scheduling unit and an uplink-dominatedscheduling unit. If the selected scheduling unit is an uplink-dominatedscheduling unit, the number of symbols included in the uplink-dominatedscheduling unit is required to satisfy a requirement; and if theselected scheduling unit is a downlink-dominated scheduling unit, thenumber of symbols included in the downlink-dominated scheduling unit isrequired to satisfy a requirement. The symbol is used for an NR systemand allowed to be used by an uplink control channel, and the symbolincludes an uplink symbol.

According to a rule, the base station and UE respectively derive thescheduling unit used by the PUCCH starting from the start schedulingunit, and mapping of the PUCCH in the derived scheduling unit.Specifically, the reserved scheduling unit and/or the unknown schedulingunit and/or the RACH scheduling unit after the start scheduling unit areexcluded and the scheduling unit is selected from the uplink schedulingunit and the downlink scheduling unit. The downlink scheduling unitincludes a downlink-only scheduling unit and a downlink-dominatedscheduling unit, and the uplink scheduling unit includes an uplink-onlyscheduling unit and an uplink-dominated scheduling unit. If the selectedscheduling unit is an uplink-dominated scheduling unit, the number ofuplink symbols included in the uplink-dominated scheduling unit isrequired to satisfy a requirement, and if the selected scheduling unitis a downlink-dominated scheduling unit, the number of downlink symbolsincluded in the downlink-dominated scheduling unit is required tosatisfy a requirement.

In one carrier, a slot n is indicated as a start slot of the PUCCH.Assuming that the PUCCH is configured to span 3 slots and there are 4uplink OFDM symbols in each slot to carry the PUCCH, the UE also needsto determine another 2 slots after the slot n to carry the PUCCH. Inthis embodiment, the base station and the UE determine remaining slotsaccording to the following rule.

If a slot n+1 is a reserved slot, the UE does not select it as aremaining slot to carry the PUCCH; if a slot n+2 is an unknown slot, theUE does not select it as a remaining slot to carry the PUCCH; if a slotn+3 is an uplink slot and the number of uplink symbols included in theslot n+3 satisfies the requirement, for example, 4 consecutive uplinksymbols; if a slot n+4 is a downlink slot, and the number of uplinksymbols included in the slot n+4 satisfies the requirement, for example,4 consecutive uplink symbols, the slot n+3 and the slot n+4 are selectedas subsequent slots to carry the PUCCH. In this way, the slots carryingthe PUCCH of the UE are the slot n, slot n+3 and slot n+4. It shall benoted here that the base station also selects the subsequent slots forreceiving the PUCCH according to the same rule. Therefore the basestation shall ensure that the symbols carrying the PUCCH in the selectedslots are not used for other purposes.

The base station configures a slot type, including an OFDM symbolattribute in the slot, and informs the UE of configuration informationof the slot type. Therefore, both the base station and the UE know theslot type, and the UE selects the slot n+3 and the slot n+4 as thesubsequent slots carrying the PUCCH according to the agreed rule, whichmay also be known by the base station. In this way, the UE sends thebase station the PUCCH bore on the 3 selected slots. The base stationderives the 3 slots (actually only the latter 2 slots, because the firstone is indicated by the base station) selected by the UE according tothe agreed rule and receives the PUCCH on the derived 3 slots.

There are two supplementary explanations below for some special cases.

Supplement 1:

when a base station informs a UE that signaling about a slot type(currently, the base station may inform the UE of a slot type throughdownlink control information (DCI) of physical layer or may inform theUE of a slot type through higher-layer signaling) is not correctlyreceived by the UE, the UE is not able to determine the slot type; inthis case, the UE may only send the PUCCH in the slot n indicated by thebase station, and the UE does not determine a slot after the slot n. Ifthe base station detects the PUCCH sent by the UE in the slot n, andthen attempts to receive the PUCCH in the subsequent slot selected bythe UE, if the UE fails to receive the PUCCH, it is considered that theUE has lost slot type indication signaling.

Supplement 2:

if a base station does not configure a UE to receive signaling about aslot type (currently, the base station may inform the UE whether toreceive configuration information about a slot type), when the PUCCH isconfigured to require multiple (for example, 3) slots to carry thePUCCH, the base station indicates that a start slot is a slot n, andthen the base station needs to configure OFDM symbols in a slot type ofconsecutive multiple slots (the number of slots required by the PUCCH)after the slot n to satisfy the requirement of carrying the PUCCH. Forexample, the base station configures the PUCCH of the UE to span 3slots, the base station configures the start slot to be the slot n, thebase station needs to configure the number of OFDM symbols and theposition of the OFDM symbols that carry the PUCCH of the UE in types ofthe slot n+1 and the slot n+2 (if a position of the OFDM carrying thePUCCH in each slot is the same). In this way, when the UE receives thatthe PUCCH needs to span 3 slots and the start slot is the slot n, UEconsiders that the slots carrying the PUCCH starts from the indicatedstart slot n, and the subsequent slot n+1 and slot n+2 are also slotscarrying the PUCCH.

In this embodiment, excluding the downlink scheduling unit and/or thereserved scheduling unit and/or the unknown scheduling unit and/or theRACH scheduling unit after the start scheduling unit, the schedulingunit is selected from the uplink scheduling unit. The downlinkscheduling unit includes a downlink-only scheduling unit and adownlink-dominated scheduling unit, and the uplink scheduling unitincludes an uplink-only scheduling unit and an uplink-dominatedscheduling unit. If the selected scheduling unit is an uplink-dominatedscheduling unit, the number of uplink symbols included in theuplink-dominated scheduling unit is required to satisfy a requirement.

According to the rule, the base station and UE respectively derive thescheduling unit used by the PUCCH starting from the start schedulingunit, and mapping of the PUCCH in the derived scheduling unit.Specifically, the downlink scheduling unit and/or the reservedscheduling unit and/or the unknown scheduling unit and/or the RACHscheduling unit after the start scheduling unit are excluded and thescheduling unit is selected from the uplink scheduling unit. Thedownlink scheduling unit includes a downlink-only scheduling unit and adownlink-dominated scheduling unit, and the uplink scheduling unitincludes a uplink-only scheduling unit and an uplink-dominatedscheduling unit. If the selected scheduling unit is an uplink-dominatedscheduling unit, the number of uplink symbols included in theuplink-dominated scheduling unit is required to satisfy a requirement.

In this embodiment, with respect to the foregoing embodiment, only forthe plurality of scheduling units required by the PUCCH, the downlinkscheduling unit is no longer used as the scheduling unit carrying thePUCCH, and the scheduling unit carrying the PUCCH may only be selectedfrom the uplink scheduling unit.

Specific selection may be made reference to the foregoing embodiment,which will not be repeatedly described here.

In this embodiment, when a scheduling unit is selected, it is requiredthat when the PUCCH spans multiple slots, the number of symbols and thesymbol position of the PUCCH in the multiple slots are the same. If thescheduling unit has the number of symbols and the symbol position thatsatisfy the requirements, the scheduling unit is considered as asubsequent slot for the PUCCH spanning multiple slots.

According to the rule, the base station and UE respectively derive thescheduling unit used by the PUCCH starting from the start schedulingunit, and mapping of the PUCCH in the derived scheduling unit.Specifically, it is required that the PUCCH spans multiple slots, andthe number of symbols and the symbol position that are included in thePUCCH in the multiple slots are the same, if the scheduling unit has thenumber of symbols and the symbol position that satisfy the requirements,the scheduling unit is considered as a slot for the PUCCH spanningmultiple slots. Types of slots are not distinguished here, whether thereare the number of uplink OFDM symbols and the symbol position availablein the slot is only required, that is, no matter what types of the slotare, a slot may be used as a subsequent slot carrying the PUCCH spanningthe slots as long as the foregoing number of symbols and symbol positionare satisfied.

In one carrier, a slot n is indicated as a start slot of the PUCCH.Assuming that the PUCCH is configured to span 3 slots and there are 4uplink OFDM symbols (for example, if a serial number of the symbolstarts from 0 and a slot includes 14 symbols, 4 uplink OFDM symbols aresymbols 3 to 6 in a slot) in each slot to carry the PUCCH, the UE alsoneeds to determine another 2 slots after the slot n to carry the PUCCH.In this embodiment, the base station and the UE determine the remainingslots according to the following rule.

If a slot n+1 is a reserved slot, a slot may be selected as long as theslot has the number of OFDM symbols and the OFDM symbol position thatsatisfy requirements. Assuming that the slot n+1 does not have thenumber of OFDM symbols and the OFDM symbol position that satisfy therequirements (these symbols are used for NR and are allowed to be usedby the PUCCH, and these slots are skipped if they are reserved for otheruses), the UE does not select the slot n+1 as the remaining slot tocarry the PUCCH. If a slot n+2 is an unknown slot, the criterion, basedon which the UE determines whether the slot n+2 may be selected as asubsequent slot to carry the PUCCH, is still the number of symbols andthe symbol position. It is assumed that the slot n+2 does not have therequired number of OFDM symbol numbers and required symbol position, ifboth a slot n+3 and a slot n+4 have the required number of symbols andrequired symbol position, the slot n+3 and the slot n+4 are selected assubsequent slots carrying the PUCCH, regardless of types of the slot n+3and the slot n+4. Thus, according to whether there are the requirednumber of symbols as well as the required symbol position in the slot,the slot n+3 and the slot n+4 are selected as subsequent slots to carrythe PUCCH. In this way, the slots carrying the PUCCH of UE are the slotn, slot n+3 and slot n+4, where the slot n is indicated by the basestation through signaling, and the slot n+3 and slot n+4 are selected bythe base station and UE according to the agreed rule.

It shall be noted here that the base station also selects the subsequentslot that receives the PUCCH according to the same rule, and thereforethe base station shall ensure that the symbol carrying the PUCCH in theselected slot is not used for other purposes.

The base station configures a slot type, including an OFDM symbolattribute in the slot, and informs the UE of configuration informationof the slot type. Therefore, both the base station and the UE know theslot type, and the UE selects the slot n+3 and the slot n+4 as thesubsequent slots carrying the PUCCH according to the agreed rule, whichmay also be known by the base station. In this way, the UE uses the 3selected slots carrying the PUCCH and sends them to the base station.The base station derives the 3 slots (actually only the latter 2 slots,because the first one is indicated by the base station) selected by theUE according to the agreed rule and receives the PUCCH therefrom. Formultiple slots to be spanned by the PUCCH, if there is the number ofuplink OFDM symbols and/or the symbol position that satisfy requirementsin a slot after the start slot, the base station shall ensure that theuplink OFDM symbols in these slots can be used by the PUCCH.Specifically, the base station knows the rule for determining thesubsequent slot, and therefore the base station ensures that the uplinkOFDM symbols in the slots that will to be determined to carry the PUCCHare not used by other channels/data.

In this embodiment, when a scheduling unit is selected, it is requiredthat the PUCCH spans multiple slots, and the number of symbols includedin the PUCCH in the multiple slots is the same, if the scheduling unithas the number of symbols that satisfies the requirements, thescheduling unit is considered as a slot for the PUCCH spanning multipleslot, and a start symbol position of mapping of the PUCCH in the slot isadjusted.

According to the rule, the base station and UE respectively derive thescheduling unit used by the PUCCH starting from the start schedulingunit, and mapping of the PUCCH in the derived scheduling unit.Specifically, it is required that the PUCCH spans multiple slots, andthe number of symbols included in the PUCCH in the multiple slots is thesame, if the scheduling unit has the number of symbols that satisfiesthe requirements, the scheduling unit is considered as a slot for thePUCCH spanning multiple slots, and a start symbol position of mapping ofthe PUCCH in the slot is adjusted. Types of slots are not distinguishedhere, whether there is the number of uplink OFDM symbols available inthe slot is only required (the symbol position is not required), thatis, no matter what types of the slot are a slot may be used as asubsequent slot carrying the PUCCH spanning the slots as long as theforegoing number of symbols is satisfied.

In one carrier, a slot n is indicated as a start slot of the PUCCH,assuming that the PUCCH is configured to span 3 slots and there are 4uplink OFDM symbols in each slot to carry the PUCCH, the UE also needsto determine another 2 slots after the slot n to carry the PUCCH. Inthis embodiment, the base station and the UE determine the remainingslots according to the following rule.

If a slot n+1 is a reserved slot, a slot may be selected as long as theslot has the number of OFDM symbols that satisfies requirements.Assuming that the slot n+1 does not have the number of OFDM symbols thatsatisfies the requirements (these symbols are used for NR and areallowed to be used by the PUCCH, and these slots are skipped if they arereserved for other uses), the UE does not select the slot n+1 as theremaining slot to carry the PUCCH. If a slot n+2 is an unknown slot, thecriterion, based on which the UE determines whether the slot n+2 may beselected as a subsequent slot to carry the PUCCH, is still the number ofsymbols. It is assumed that the slot n+2 does not have the number ofOFDM symbols that satisfies the requirements, if both a slot n+3 and aslot n+4 have the number of symbols that satisfies the requirements, theslot n+3 and the slot n+4 are selected as subsequent slots carrying thePUCCH, regardless of types of the slot n+3 and the slot n+4. In someembodiments, if a symbol position corresponding to the required numberof OFDM symbols in the slot n+3 is also the same as a symbol positionused by the PUCCH in the slot n, the symbol position that is the same asthe slot n is used in the slot n+3 to carry the PUCCH. If there are therequired number of OFDM symbols in the slot n+4, but a symbol positioncorresponding to the required number of OFDM symbols in the slot n+4 isdifferent from a position of the symbol carrying the PUCCH in the slotn. It is assumed here that the number of symbols carrying the PUCCH inthe slot n is 4, which are symbols 3 to 6 (if a serial number of symbolsin the slot starts from 0), the selected position of the symbolscarrying the PUCCH in the slot n+3 is the same as that of the slot n.Assuming that the number of symbols carrying the PUCCH in the slot n+4is also 4, however there are 10 uplink symbols with symbol positions of4 to 14, in this case, the symbols carrying the PUCCH are adjusted toconsecutive 4 symbols starting from the first uplink symbol in the slotn+4, that is, symbols 4 to 7. In other words, serial numbers of theselected symbol carrying the PUCCH in the slot n+4 is 4 to 7. Obviously,the positions of the symbols carrying the PUCCH in slot n+4 areadjusted, and are different from the symbol positions in the slot n andslot n+3. In this embodiment, it is implied that the adjusted symbolposition starts from the first uplink symbol in the slot (or the UEknows about the slot), and the adjusted rule shall also be agreed by thebase station and the UE in advance.

Thus, according to whether there is the number of symbols that satisfiesthe requirement in the slot, the slot n+3 and the slot n+4 are selectedas subsequent slots to carry the PUCCH, and the positions of the symbolscarrying the PUCCH in the slot n+4 are adjusted. In this way, the slotscarrying the PUCCH of UE are slot n, slot n+3 and slot n+4, where theslot n is indicated by the base station through signaling, and the slotn+3 and slot n+4 are selected by the base station and UE according tothe agreed rule.

It shall be noted here that the base station also selects the subsequentslot receiving the PUCCH and the position of the symbol carrying thePUCCH in the slot according to the same rule, and therefore the basestation shall ensure that the symbol carrying the PUCCH in the selectedslot is not used for other purposes.

The base station configures a slot type, including an OFDM symbolattribute in the slot (an uplink symbol, a downlink symbol or a reservedsymbol or a GP symbol, or the like), and informs the UE of configurationinformation of the slot type. Therefore, both the base station and theUE know the slot type, and the UE selects the slot n+3 and slot n+4 asthe subsequent slots carrying the PUCCH according to the agreed rule,the start symbol carrying the PUCCH in the slot n+4 is also adjusted,and the base station may also be known according to the agreed rule ofadjusting a symbol position. In this way, the UE sends the base stationthe PUCCH bore on the 3 selected slots. The base station derives the 3slots (actually only the latter 2 slots, because the first one isindicated by the base station) selected by the UE according to theagreed rule and receives the PUCCH therefrom. For multiple slots to bespanned by the PUCCH, if there is the number of uplink OFDM symbolsand/or the symbol position that satisfy requirements in a slot after thestart slot, the base station shall ensure that the uplink OFDM symbolsin these slots can be used by the PUCCH. Specifically, the base stationknows the rule for determining the subsequent slot, and therefore thebase station ensures that the uplink OFDM symbols in the slots that willto be determined to carry the PUCCH are not used by other channels/data.

In the described method of the foregoing embodiments, the embodimentsmay be used in combination without conflict.

For example, technical features of the foregoing two embodiments arecombined, when the UE selects a subsequent slot, reserved slot andunknown slot are first excluded according to their slot types, and adownlink or uplink slot after the start slot is selected as long as thenumber of uplink symbols and the position of symbols included in thedownlink slot or uplink slot are the same as the number of symbols andthe position of the symbols carrying the PUCCH in the start slot of thePUCCH. Reference may be made to the corresponding embodiments describedabove for the sake of complete description.

For example, technical features of the foregoing two embodiments arecombined, when the UE selects a subsequent slot, reserved slots, unknownslots and downlink slots are first excluded according to their slottypes, and an uplink slot after the indicated start slot is selected aslong as the number of uplink symbols included in the uplink slot is thesame as the number of symbols carrying the PUCCH in the start slot ofthe PUCCH. If the uplink symbol position in the slot is different fromthe symbol position of the PUCCH in the start slot, the symbol positionof the PUCCH in the slot is adjusted according to the agreed rule.Reference may be made to the corresponding embodiments described abovefor the sake of complete description.

For example, technical features of the foregoing two embodiments arecombined, when the UE selects a subsequent slot, reserved slots andunknown slots are first excluded according to their slot types, and adownlink or uplink slot after the indicated start slot is selected aslong as the number of uplink symbols included in the downlink or uplinkslot is the same as the number of symbols carrying the PUCCH in thestart slot of the PUCCH. If the uplink symbol position in the downlinkor uplink slot is different from the symbol position of the PUCCH in thestart slot, the symbol position of the PUCCH in the downlink or uplinkslot is adjusted according to the agreed rule. Reference may be made tothe corresponding embodiments described above for the sake of completedescription.

For example, technical features of the foregoing two embodiments arecombined, when the UE selects a subsequent slot, reserved slots, unknownslots and downlink slots are first excluded according to their slottypes, and an uplink slot after the indicated start slot is selected aslong as the number of uplink symbols and position of symbols included inthe uplink slot are the same as the number of symbols and the positionof the symbols carrying the PUCCH in the start slot of the PUCCH.Reference may be made to the corresponding embodiments described abovefor the sake of complete description.

This embodiment also includes that the base station indicates for the UEwhich manner is used to determine the subsequent slot when the PUCCHspans multiple slots. For example, the manners in the embodiments aresupported by one system, then the base station may inform the UE throughsignaling (including higher-layer signaling or physical layer signalingor medium access control (MAC) layer signaling) of which specific manneris used to determine the slot to be spanned by the PUCCH. Thehigher-layer signaling may be a broadcast RRC message or a UE dedicatedradio resource control (RRC) message. The physical layer signaling maybe bore by DCI, which may be public DCI or UE-specific DCI. The MAClayer signaling may be a control unit of the MAC layer. This indicationmay increase robustness of the system.

Different from the foregoing embodiment, this embodiment solves theproblem of, when one PUCCH spans multiple slots, how to specificallydetermine the number of symbols of the PUCCH in each slot among themultiple slots if the PUCCH is allowed to have different number of OFDMsymbols in each slot.

When the PUCCH (the PUCCH corresponding to UCI of 1 bit or 2 bits) spansmultiple slots, a subsequent slot may be selected if the followingrequirement is satisfied: if the PUCCH is bore, an OCC multiplexingcapability of the PUCCH is required to be the same as a multiplexingcapability of the PUCCH bore in the start slot. When the PUCCH performsfrequency hopping in a slot, OCC multiplexing capabilities of eachfrequency hopping are calculated separately, and when the PUCCH does notperform frequency hopping in the slot, the OCC multiplexing capabilityis calculated as a whole.

The PUCCH may have different formats according to the number of bitstransmitted, and the number of symbols included is greater than 4. Forexample, a PUCCH transmission format, which is set for transmittinginformation of 1 bit or 2 bits, is OCC multiplexing mode in the timedomain and is denoted as format 1; a PUCCH transmission format, which isset for transmitting more than 3 bits and less than X bits, is in afrequency-time OCC multiplexing mode; and a PUCCH transmission format,which is set for transmitting more than X bits, does not supportmultiplexing.

If the foregoing PUCCH formats are sent across multiple slots, thefollowing describes the case where the number of symbols used to carrythe PUCCH among the multiple slots is different. For example, the PUCCHneeds to span three slots, however the number of uplink symbolsavailable for the PUCCH in the three slots is not exactly equal. It isrequired to deal with the case where the number of symbols carrying thePUCCH in the multiple slots is not equal. For example, the first slotand the second slot only have one symbol for the PUCCH, and the thirdslot has 8 symbols; and such a PUCCH structure across multiple slots isobviously not optimal. It is thus required to design the optimaldifferent number of symbols in each slot in the case where the number ofsymbols carrying the PUCCH in the multiple slots is not equal. Onemethod is described below.

In general, for a PUCCH that spans multiple slots, the base stationindicates the start slot of the PUCCH, and configures a start symbol andlength (the number of symbols) in the start slot and the number ofslots. It is required to determine the subsequent slots and to determinecharacteristics of the subsequent slots to be selected. One way is thatfor the foregoing PUCCH format 1 (refer to PUCCH format 1 or a structureof the PUCCH carrying 1 bit or 2 bits in the existing NR), when multipleslots are spanned, a difference value of the number of symbols carryingthe PUCCH between slots is limited by an OCC multiplexing capability.For the selection of subsequent slots, a basic principle is that whenthere is a subsequent slot to carry the PUCCH, if the PUCCH has the sameOCC multiplexing capability in the slot as the PUCCH bore in the startslot, the slot can be selected. If the PUCCH performs frequency hoppingwithin the slot, for the selection of the subsequent slot, the basicprinciple is slightly changed to that when there is a subsequent slot tocarry the PUCCH, if the PUCCH has the same OCC multiplexing capabilityin the slot as each frequency hopping of the PUCCH bore in the startslot, the slot can be selected.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the base station configuresthe PUCCH spanning multiple slots for the UE, and informs the UE of theinformation about the start slot, the start symbol and the number ofsymbols for the PUCCH in the start slot, the number of slots that thePUCCH needs to span, and whether frequency hopping is performed. Thenthe base station and UE agree to determine the subsequent slot used bythe PUCCH according to the foregoing principle. The UE continues sendingthe PUCCH on the selected slot, and the base station continues receivingthe PUCCH on the slot. It is assumed that the base station configuresthe PUCCH of the UE to span 2 slots, the start slot is a slot n, and thePUCCH uses 7 symbols in the start slot in which a start symbol is asymbol 3 (a serial number starts from 0), and frequency hopping is notperformed, for the PUCCH, one more slot is needed subsequently. Here,assuming that there is no uplink symbol in a slot n+1, the slot n+1 isnot selected, and the slot n+2 has 6 uplink symbols that may be used. Itcan be found in Table 1 that when the PUCCH does not perform frequencyhopping and the number of symbols is 6 or 7, the OCC multiplexingcapability is the same for the 6 symbols and 7 symbols, and thereforethe slot n+2 may be selected to carry the PUCCH at this time. Thus, theslots used by the PUCCH are the slot n and the slot n+2.

In some embodiments, a principle for selection of the subsequent slotmay also as follows: when the PUCCH is transmitted, whether startpositions of the symbols used in the slots are the same. For example,when a strict condition is set, the start symbols of the PUCCH inmultiple slots are also required to be the same. For another example,when a strict condition is set, the start symbols of the PUCCH inmultiple slots are not required to be the same as long as OCCmultiplexing capability remains the same, however the position of thestart symbol of the PUCCH in the slot shall be agreed, for example, tobe the first available uplink symbol in the slot.

For selection of the subsequent slot of the PUCCH configured to spanmultiple slots, an OCC multiplexing capability of the PUCCH in theselected subsequent slot is the same as an OCC multiplexing capabilityof the PUCCH in the start slot. In this case, the number of symbols usedfor the PUCCH in the subsequently selected slot may not be equal to thenumber of symbols used for the PUCCH in the start slot, that is, thenumber of symbols used for carrying the PUCCH in the multiple slots maynot be equal to each other (certainly, they may also be equal). Theposition of the symbol carrying the PUCCH in the selected slot may alsobe allowed to be adjusted, and an adjustment rule may be agreed. In thisway, there will be more slots for UE to select.

TABLE 1 OCC multiplexing capability Number of PUCCH Support frequencyNot support symbols hopping frequency hopping 4 1 2 5 1 2 6 1 3 7 [1]Note that it may 3 be 2 here, which does not affect the essence of thepresent disclosure 8 2 4 9 2 4 10 2 5 11 [2] Note that it may 5 be 3here, which does not affect the essence of the present disclosure 12 3 613 3 6 14 3 7

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the PUCCH supportsfrequency hopping in the agreed principle. In this case, when asubsequent slot is selected, the slot needs to satisfy: if the PUCCH isbore in the slot and performs frequency hopping, an OCC multiplexingcapability of the first frequency hopping is the same as an OCCmultiplexing capability of the first frequency hopping of the PUCCH inthe start slot, and an OCC multiplexing capability of the secondfrequency hopping is the same as an OCC multiplexing capability of thesecond frequency hopping of the PUCCH in the start slot. In this way,the slot may be selected. If a more strict condition is set, it mayrequire that the start symbol carrying the PUCCH in the slot is the sameas the start symbol carrying the PUCCH in the start slot.

In this embodiment, when the scheduling unit is selected, the PUCCH (fora PUCCH corresponding to UCI greater than 3 bits) spans multiple slots,and the subsequent slot may be selected if the following requirement issatisfied: if the PUCCH is bore, a length of a mother code of the PUCCHbore in the slot is required to be the same as a length of a mother codeof the PUCCH in the start slot (a frequency domain resource is the sameas the start slot).

For the PUCCH carrying greater than 2 bits of information, since the OCCmultiplexing in the time domain is not supported, a principle ofselecting a subsequent slot is different when the PUCCH spans multipleslots. When the PUCCH spans multiple slots, the subsequent slotselection satisfies the following condition: if the PUCCH is bore in theslot, a length of a mother code of a coded bit of the PUCCH bore by aresource (including a time domain and a frequency domain, where the timedomain is a symbol, the frequency domain is a PRB) used for carrying thePUCCH in the slot is the same as a length of a mother code of a codedbit of the PUCCH in the start slot, and in this case the slot isselected.

If a strict condition is further set, it may be required that the numberof frequency domain resources may not be allowed to be increased (thatis, a frequency domain resource used for the PUCCH in the slot is thesame size as a frequency domain used for the PUCCH in the start slot).It may also be required that a start symbol of the PUCCH in the slot isthe same as a start symbol in the start slot. It may also be requiredthat a code rate of the coded bit of the PUCCH bore in the slot exceedsa certain threshold. Although the coded bits are from the same mothercode, decoding performance is reduced if the code rate is too large, andtherefore a reasonable code rate threshold is set to ensure the decodingperformance. The threshold of the code rate may be obtained throughsimulation, or a certain value of the code rate may be selected from thecode rates allowed for the PUCCH. It shall be emphasized here that oneor more of the foregoing conditions may be used in combination or alone.

According to the method of the scheduling unit for the uplink controlchannel, the base station and the user equipment provided in the presentdisclosure, a scheduling unit used by an uplink control channel of auser equipment is determined according to an agreed rule, the problem ofhow to determine which slots are selected to carry a PUCCH spanningmultiple slots after a start slot is resolved. The present disclosureprovides a variety of solutions, in which the slot may be determinedusing an agreed rule without requiring additional signalingnotification.

In the present application, technical features in various embodimentsmay be combined in one embodiment without conflict. Each embodiment isonly an optimal embodiment of the present application and is notintended to limit the protection scope of the present application.

A technical problem provided by this embodiment is: how to determinemultiplexing modes of a de-modulation reference signal (DMRS) and datawhen the UE transmits the data according to a maximum processingcapability of the UE. The multiplexing modes are time divisionmultiplexing (TDM) or frequency division multiplexing (FDM). The maximumprocessing capability of the UE here refers to a minimum durationrequired for receiving, by the UE, a physical downlink control channel(PDCCH) sent by a base station to schedule uplink data (including DMRSrequired for data), decoding the PDCCH, and preparing for uplink dataaccording to PDCCH scheduling information until the uplink data may besent, which is denoted as N2 here. The stronger the UE processingcapability is, the smaller the value of N2 is. Generally, a capabilityvalue N2 of the UE is reported to the base station.

In practice, since there is a time offset between the uplink and thedownlink when data is transmitted, the base station also configures a TAvalue to the user for a time unit in advance by the user when data istransmitted. Therefore, a minimum spacing from the last symbol of thePDCCH that schedules user data to the first data symbol that a user mayactually send the PUSCH is related to both N2 and TA. The minimum numberof symbols from the last symbol of the PDCCH to the first data symbol ofthe PUSCH may be denoted as K2, that is, K2 is related to a capabilityof UE, N2 and TA. For example, the last symbol of PDCCH is on the symboln, if the PUSCH scheduled by the PDCCH to the user starts from a symboln+K2 or n+K2, the UE has the ability to start transmitting data fromn+K2. In order to reduce complexity of the user, or in order to leavemore time for the user to prepare for data transmission, only DMRS maybe transmitted on the first symbol of the PUSCH by default and data isnot transmitted. Since the DMRS may be prepared in advance, the user hastime of one more symbol to prepare for the transmission of data in thePUSCH.

However, the default method brings a lot of overhead. Since it is alwaysconsidered that the DMRS and the data are TDM, that is, they are nottransmitted at the same time, even if a DMRS does not occupy allsubcarriers of the first symbol, these unoccupied subcarriers cannot beused for data transmission.

Provided is a method for limiting a multiplexing mode of a DMRS port. Ifthe base station dynamically configures that the first symbol of thePUSCH is after a (K2+X)-th symbol after the last symbol of the PDCCH,the multiplexing mode of the DMRS and the data of the PUSCH includes FDMand TDM. The multiplexing mode of the PUSCH and the DMRS describedherein refers to a multiplexing mode between the first DMRS symbol orthe first 2 consecutive DMRS symbols and the PUSCH.

If the base station dynamically configures that the first symbol of thePUSCH is on a (K2+X)-th symbol after the last symbol of thecorresponding PDCCH, the multiplexing mode of the DMRS and the data ofthe PUSCH only includes TDM.

Optionally, if the base station dynamically configures that the firstsymbol of the PUSCH is on or before a (K2+X)-th symbol after the lastsymbol of the corresponding PDCCH, and does not precede a K2-th symbolafter the last symbol of the PDCCH, the multiplexing mode of the DMRSand the data of the PUSCH only includes TDM.

If the base station dynamically configures that the first symbol of thePUSCH is before a (K2+X)-th symbol after the last symbol of thecorresponding PDCCH, obviously, the user does not have enough time toprepare for data transmission, and the user does not send the data inthis case.

K2 is calculated based on the capability N2 of the user.

Assuming that the last symbol of the PDCCH is on a symbol n in a slot,after K2 is calculated according to the capability N2 of the user, thebase station shall generally schedule that the first symbol of the PUSCHof the user cannot precede a symbol n+K2, otherwise the user does nothave enough time to prepare. According to the present disclosure, if thebase station configures to the user that the first symbol of the PUSCHis between a (n+K2)-th symbol and a (n+K2+X)-th symbol, the multiplexingmode of the DMRS and the data of the PUSCH only includes TDM. Since thedata is not transmitted on the first PUSCH symbol at this time but onlythe DMRS is transmitted, which enables to win a symbol of preparationtime to the user for transmitting data. However, if the base stationconfigures to the user that the first symbol of the PUSCH is after a(n+K2+X)-th symbol, the multiplexing mode of the DMRS and the data ofthe PUSCH includes TDM and FDM. In this case, the user has enough timeto prepare for data transmission, and a resource utilization rate couldbe effectively improved if the data is transmitted on the first symbolof the PUSCH, where n is an integer.

When X is equal to 0, if the base station configures to the user thatthe first symbol of the PUSCH is on a symbol n+K2, there is no datatransmission on the first symbol of the PUSCH, that is, the DMRS and thedata are TDM. However, if the base station configures to the user thatthe first symbol of the PUSCH is after the symbol n+K2, the data may betransmitted on the first symbol of the PUSCH, that is, the multiplexingmode of the DMRS and the data include TDM and FDM. If the DMRS on thePUSCH is configured with 2 consecutive DMRS symbols, the multiplexingmodes of the DMRS and the data on the two symbols are the same.

X is an integer greater than or equal to 0. X may be predefined, forexample, X is predefined to be 0, or can be configured for the user byhigher-layer signaling.

As shown in FIG. 5, a total of 4 ports are supported on one DMRS symboland the 4 ports are divided into 2 orthogonal code division multiplexing(CDM) groups. Ports p0 and p1 correspond to a CDM group 0, and ports p2and p3 correspond to a CDM group 1. Generally, when a base stationallocates port 0 or 1 to a user, the base station needs to inform theuser UE0 whether there are other users transmitting DMRS on the CDMgroup 1. If yes, as shown in column 5 of indexes 0 and 2 in Table 2below indicating that there may be transmission of the DMRS by otherusers on the CDM group 1, the UE0 cannot transmit data on the CDMgroup 1. In this way, for the UE0, on the symbol of the DMRS, the DMRSand the data are TDM. However, as shown in indexes 1 and 3 in Table 2,if there are no other users in the CDM group to send the DMRS, the UE0transmits data on the CDM group 1.

According to the foregoing description, if the base station configuresto the user that the first symbol of the PUSCH is between a (n+K2)-thsymbol and a (n+K2+X)-th symbol, the indexes 1 and 3 in Table 2 areprohibited, because the multiplexing mode of the DMRS and the data ofthe PUSCH only includes TDM, however, indexes 1 and 3 include an FDMmode. In other words, when the base station configures to the user thatthe first symbol of the PUSCH is between the (n+K2)-th symbol and the(n+K2+X)-th symbol, the user does not want to be configured with someDMRS port configuration, which includes data transmission on the symbolof the DMRS. However, if the base station configures to the user thatthe first symbol of the PUSCH is after the (n+K2+X)-th symbol, there isno limitation.

TABLE 2 Coscheduled DMRS DMRS DMRS CDM Scrambling Number of code IndexLayers port(s) symbols group ID words (CWs) 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 21 1 1 1 0 1 3 1 1 1 0 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

In other words, if the base station configures to the user that thefirst symbol of the PUSCH is between the (n+K2)-th symbol and the(n+K2+X)-th symbol, on the first symbol or first two symbols of thePUSCH, all resources other than the resources used for the user DMRSport transmission are not used for the user to transmit the data. If thebase station configures to the user that the first symbol of the PUSCHis after the (n+K2+X)-th symbol, on the first symbol or the first twosymbols of the PUSCH, whether the remaining resources other than theresources used for the DMRS port transmission of the user are used forthe data transmission of the user needs to be indicated by the basestation with physical layer dynamic signaling.

In addition, for X, K2, K2+X, they may be a non-negative integer, andthe symbol is used as a unit. They may also be a non-negative decimalnumber, which is counted according to a duration, for examplenanoseconds.

A person of ordinary skill in the art may understand that all or a partof the steps of the foregoing method may be implemented by a programinstructing corresponding hardware, the program may be stored in acomputer readable storage medium, for example, a read-only memory, amagnetic disk, an optical disk or the like. Optically, all or a part ofthe steps of the foregoing method may be implemented by using one ormore integrated circuits. Accordingly, each module/unit in the foregoingembodiments may be implemented in the form of hardware or softwarefunctional modules. The present disclosure is not limited to anyspecific form of combination of hardware and software.

The foregoing description is only a preferred embodiment of the presentdisclosure and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, andvarious modifications and changes may be made to the present disclosurefor a person of skilled in the art. Any modification, equivalentsubstitution, improvement or the like, made within the spirit andprinciple of the present disclosure, shall fall within the protectionscope of the present disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for wireless communication, comprising:receiving, by a user equipment, configuration information from a basestation configuring multiple slots for a transmission on an uplinkcontrol channel, wherein the configuration information indicates (1) astarting slot for the transmission on the uplink control channel, (2) anumber of slots for the transmission on the uplink control channel, (3)a starting symbol in a slot for the transmission on the uplink controlchannel, and (4) a number of symbols in a slot for the transmission onthe uplink control channel; determining, by the user equipment accordingto the configuration information, a subsequent slot in the multipleslots and a symbol in the subsequent slot for the transmission on theuplink control channel, wherein a number of symbols available forcarrying the transmission on the uplink control channel in thesubsequent slot is greater than or equal to the configured number ofsymbols, and wherein one or more symbols in the subsequent slot for thetransmission on the uplink control channel have a same position as oneor more symbols in the starting slot according to the configurationinformation; and performing, by the user equipment, the transmission onthe uplink control channel using at least the starting slot and thesubsequent slot.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein a capability oforthogonal cover code multiplexing is enabled for the starting slot andthe subsequent slot for the transmission on the uplink control channel.3. The method of claim 1, comprising: performing, by the user equipment,frequency hopping for the transmission on the uplink control channelusing a same capability of orthogonal cover code multiplexing in thesubsequent slot as in the starting slot, wherein N consecutive slotsfrom the starting slot are used for the transmission on the uplinkcontrol channel, the N consecutive slots including the starting slot. 4.The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more symbols in each of themultiple slots are consecutive symbols.
 5. The method of claim 1,comprising: determining, by the user equipment, that a slot is not usedfor the transmission on the uplink control channel due to the slot nothaving the configured number of symbols.
 6. A method for wirelesscommunication, comprising: transmitting, by a base station,configuration information to a user equipment configuring multiple slotsfor a transmission on an uplink control channel, wherein theconfiguration information indicates (1) a starting slot for thetransmission on the uplink control channel, (2) a number of slots forthe transmission on the uplink control channel, (3) a starting symbol ina slot for the transmission on the uplink control channel, and (4) anumber of symbols in a slot for the transmission on the uplink controlchannel; and receiving, by the base station, the transmission on theuplink control channel from the user equipment using at least thestarting slot and a subsequent slot, wherein the subsequent slot and asymbol in the subsequent slot for the transmission on the uplink controlchannel are determined according to the configuration information,wherein a number of symbols available for carrying the transmission onthe uplink control channel is greater than or equal to the configurednumber of symbols, and wherein one or more symbols in the subsequentslot for the transmission on the uplink control channel have a sameposition as one or more symbols in the starting slot according to theconfiguration information.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein Nconsecutive slots from the starting slot are used for the transmissionon the uplink control channel, and wherein the N consecutive slotsinclude the starting slot.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein acapability of orthogonal cover code multiplexing is enabled for thestarting slot and the subsequent slot for the transmission on the uplinkcontrol channel.
 9. The method of claim 6, wherein frequency hopping isperformed for the transmission on the uplink control channel using thesame capability of orthogonal cover code multiplexing in the subsequentslot as in the starting slot.
 10. The method of claim 6, wherein the oneor more symbols in each of the multiple slots are consecutive symbols.11. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising: a processor;and a memory including processor executable code, wherein the processorexecutable code upon execution by the processor configures the processorto: receive configuration information from a base station configuringmultiple slots for a transmission on an uplink control channel, whereinthe configuration information indicates (1) a starting slot for thetransmission on the uplink control channel, (2) a number of slots forthe transmission on the uplink control channel, (3) a starting symbol ina slot for the transmission on the uplink control channel, and (4) anumber of symbols in a slot for the transmission on the uplink controlchannel; determine, according to the configuration information, asubsequent slot in the multiple slots and a symbol in the subsequentslot for the transmission on the uplink control channel, wherein anumber of symbols available for carrying the transmission on the uplinkcontrol channel is greater than or equal to the configured number ofsymbols, and wherein one or more symbols in the subsequent slot for thetransmission on the uplink control channel have a same position as oneor more symbols in the starting slot according to the configurationinformation; and perform the transmission on the uplink control channelusing at least the starting slot and the subsequent slot.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 11, wherein a capability of orthogonal cover codemultiplexing is enabled for the starting slot and the subsequent slotfor the transmission on the uplink control channel.
 13. The apparatus ofclaim 11, wherein the processor is configured to: perform frequencyhopping for the transmission on the uplink control channel using thesame capability of orthogonal cover code multiplexing in the subsequentslot as in the starting slot, wherein N consecutive slots from thestarting slot are used for the transmission on the uplink controlchannel, the N consecutive slots including the starting slot.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 11, wherein the one or more symbols in each of themultiple slots are consecutive symbols.
 15. The apparatus of claim 11,wherein the processor is configured to: determine that a slot is notused for the transmission on the uplink control channel due to the slotnot having the configured number of symbols.
 16. An apparatus forwireless communication, comprising: a processor; and a memory includingprocessor executable code, wherein the processor executable code uponexecution by the processor configures the processor to: transmitconfiguration information to a user equipment configuring multiple slotsfor a transmission on an uplink control channel, wherein theconfiguration information indicates (1) a starting slot for thetransmission on the uplink control channel, (2) a number of slots forthe transmission on the uplink control channel, (3) a starting symbol ina slot for the transmission on the uplink control channel, and (4) anumber of symbols in a slot for the transmission on the uplink controlchannel; and receiving, by the base station, the transmission on theuplink control channel from the user equipment using at least thestarting slot and a subsequent slot, wherein the subsequent slot and asymbol in the subsequent slot for the transmission on the uplink controlchannel are determined according to the configuration information,wherein a number of symbols available for carrying the transmission onthe uplink control channel is greater than or equal to the configurednumber of symbols, and wherein one or more symbols in the subsequentslot for the transmission on the uplink control channel have a sameposition as one or more symbols in the starting slot according to theconfiguration information.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein Nconsecutive slots from the starting slot are used for the transmissionon the uplink control channel, and wherein the N consecutive slotsinclude the starting slot.
 18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein acapability of orthogonal cover code multiplexing is enabled for thestarting slot and the subsequent slot for the transmission on the uplinkcontrol channel.
 19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein frequencyhopping is performed for the transmission on the uplink control channelusing the same capability of orthogonal cover code multiplexing in thestarting slot as in the subsequent slot.
 20. The apparatus of claim 16,wherein the one or more symbols in each of the multiple slots areconsecutive symbols.